The catch cry of many Islamic spokespersons (usually men) and I guess Islamic nations, is that the current global conflict (WWIII?) is an ‘argument' between the “Imperialistic West” and the ‘downtrodden nations of Islam’. In reality this claim is a misnomer. Firstly Islam is nothing more than a continuation of a 1600 year old (or longer) Bedouin Arab imperialistic quest that over time has become supported by more recently ‘Arabised Arabs’ who are made up of some of the many peoples that have been conquered during the Islamic period.
The reason Islamists don’t use the correct terminology is because “The West” has for many, a conveniently negative emotive connotation. What they should be saying is that the disagreement is between the ‘forces of oppression’ (Islam) and the forces of freedom and enlightenment. Yes I know freedom is a fairly illusory concept however the following statistics shed some light on the ‘big picture’ and provide a ‘macro view’ of why us infidels (modern, free willed, enlightened, civilised people) dislike Islam so much.
Freedom Statistics
The top 20 Countries the numbers in order left to right, Democratic Ranking, Press Freedom Ranking, Corruption Ranking, Political Rights 1=good 7=bad, Civil Liberties 1=good 7=bad
The reason Islamists don’t use the correct terminology is because “The West” has for many, a conveniently negative emotive connotation. What they should be saying is that the disagreement is between the ‘forces of oppression’ (Islam) and the forces of freedom and enlightenment. Yes I know freedom is a fairly illusory concept however the following statistics shed some light on the ‘big picture’ and provide a ‘macro view’ of why us infidels (modern, free willed, enlightened, civilised people) dislike Islam so much.
Freedom Statistics
The top 20 Countries the numbers in order left to right, Democratic Ranking, Press Freedom Ranking, Corruption Ranking, Political Rights 1=good 7=bad, Civil Liberties 1=good 7=bad
Finland 1 1 1 1 1 Denmark 2 3 3 1 1 N. Zealand 3 8 1 1 1 Sweden 4 1 5 1 1 Switzerland 5 5 6 1 1 Norway 6 3 7 1 1 Netherlands 7 5 10 1 1 Australia 8 17 8 1 1 U.K. 9 17 10 1 1 Canada 10 13 12 1 1 Austria 11 25 9 1 1 Germany 11 12 13 1 1 Belgium 13 5 16 1 1 Ireland 14 10 16 1 1 USA 14 13 14 1 1 France 16 22 15 1 1 Portugal 17 9 21 1 1 Chile 18 32 18 1 1 Spain 19 29 20 1 1 Estonia 20 13 22 1 1
Now lets look at the Arab League plus Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia
Indonesia 77 84 123 2 3 Mauritania 81 81 ?? 6 4 Jordon 87 92 30 5 4 Oman 89 118 23 6 5 U.A.E. 90 118 25 6 6 Kuwait 91 84 37 4 5 Malaysia 94 113 31 4 5 Lebanon 99 89 71 5 4 Tunisia 100 131 35 6 5 Morocco 100 94 67 5 4 Egypt 104 107 59 6 5 Algeria 107 97 85 6 5 Pakistan 112 90 129 6 5 Afghanistan 113 107 103 5 5 Saudi A. 117 131 59 7 6 Iraq 121 116 123 6 5 Syria 124 137 59 7 7 Yemen 124 130 91 5 5 Bangladesh 132 107 42 4 4 Iran 132 131 76 6 6 Somalia 143 137 129 6 7 Sudan 146 142 149 7 7 Libya 148 146 106 7 7
These statistics at least give an overview of why Islamic states and their inherent culture are considered an abomination in the eyes of many of the world’s thinking citizens. It’s all about what adult educated people value: that is to have some say in their own wellbeing and some chance to reach, at least in part, what Maslow termed a state of “self actualisation”.
Both the communists and the fascists found that tightly controlled populations cannot perform as well as the ‘messy free thinking masses’ when it comes to getting things done whether it be a war or just running the mechanisms needed to support national/global populations. Hopefully the Islamic revolutionaries will eventually come to the same conclusions (or suffer the same fate), without too much cost to the rest of the world.
From a micro or individual perspective, I offer another reason why the thinkers of the world dislike the whole concept of Islam (not just the radicals), much in the same way they disapprove of any oppressive religion, sect, or fanatic cult.
Here are some typical Islamic instructions on how to live, which Imams, websites and TV programs go to great pains to explain
An online question on the website “www.islamtoday.net”…”Cutting our fingernails in order”, from Farid - Saudi Arabia, to Mufti Dr. Abdul-Wahhab ibn Nasir Al-Tariri (a former professor of Shari `ah at Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud University, Saudi Arabia).
“What is the ruling on clipping fingernails? How short must the fingernails be? Is the ruling the same for men and women? I heard that we should cut our fingernails in a certain order and that we should bury our fingernails. Is this true?”
Responding to the question the Mufti gives the following answer:
“In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Thanks for your question, which reflect[s] your desire to know about the teachings of Islam.
Being a comprehensive religion, Islam deals with all aspects of life, major and minor. A Muslim is required by Islam to adhere to the Islamic way of life in all his affairs.
Clipping fingernails is one of the five qualities dictated by the fitrah or the natural inclination of man. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, “Five are the acts quite akin to fitrah: Circumcision, shaving the pubes, clipping the nails, plucking the hair under the armpits, and clipping (or shaving) the mustache” (reported in all the six authentic collections of Hadith).
We are clearly commanded by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the Sunnahto clip our fingernails short. This command is directed to both men and women equally. In cutting nails, it is required to cut the excessive pieces under which dirt could gather. Therefore, the fingernails should not hang over any part of the finger’s free skin. When clipping the nails, it is part of the Sunnah to start with our right hand, since the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) preferred to start with his right hand in all things, including his manner of grooming. `A'ishah said about her husband, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), “Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) preferred to start with his right side in all matters, in his purification, in combing his hair, and in putting on his shoes” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim). There is no preference, however, for any individual finger over another. The recommendation to bury fingernail and hair is attributed to some of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Some Muslim scholars state that it is permissible to dispose of the nails by throwing them in the garbage or down the drain.
The website also has suggestions on further reading links…”How to Dispose of Fallen Hair and Nails”, “Cutting Hair & Nails in State of Janabah”, “Brushing Hair or Clipping Nails at Night”, “What to Do with Body Parts That Are Removed” (1)
Now one must worry about any organisation that needs to be this dominant over those it rules. It appears the Dr. is a doctor of Islamic studies and seemingly not a physicist, medical doctor, health specialist, or even an engineer, however I could be wrong. What level of all facets of intelligence is fostered when such simple concepts need to be explained? How much contribution to the wellbeing of mankind is the questioner likely to make in his/her lifetime? How productive a citizen is someone who cannot figure out how to cut his/her own fingernails going to be?
Oh and there are prayers to be said for ablutions just to reinforce the “way to live” (dogma?) as well!
On going to the toilet… Put on shoes and cover your head with a cap etc. before going the lavatory and read the following prayer on your way: ”Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal khubthi wal” - "God! I seek thy protection against the devils of the masculine as well as the feminine species”
On emerging from the lavatory, read this prayer: ”Alhamdu lillahi-l-ladhi adhaba 'annil adha” - “I thank the lord who relieved me of the burden and granted me ease.”(2)
Here is one more example of advice from another site with a section on “ask the Imam”.
Q. “Is it ok for a husband and wife to celebrate their wedding anniversary?”
A. “Celebrating birthdays and wedding anniversaries have no basis in Islam. They are the customs of the Kuffaar (the rest of us). Rasulullah [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] said, ‘That person who imitates a nation is from among them.’ The issue is not only about the husband and wife going out to eat on the anniversary; it is also about following the method and ways of the kuffaar, which is prohibited…and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best - Mufti Ebrahim Desai” (3)
So perhaps its time for the rest of us (the infidels) to become more active in trying first to understand the true nature of the, dare I say it, “real threat” modern civilized existence is facing and then get more involved in the process of formulating and implementing an appropriate response! Let us be honest, leaving it to the likes of the apologist Tony B. and apparently not so smart George B. is fraught with danger. This will need to be an infidel community effort and everyone has a part to play.
If you think this is all a bit over dramatic why not go to Google and type in “Ask the Mufti” and give yourself a reality check on just how dangerous and intrusive Islam as a total concept is and perhaps you may also find out why the current world problem is with Islam as a whole. You may also then come to realise that it is not just about a small group of radicals, supposedly hijacking what is claimed, (even by some ill informed ‘Western Leaders’), to be a “great religion”. Oh yes and be sure to try “Kuffaar” in Google search as well and see what the umma (Muslim community worldwide) really thinks of you.
www.caliibre.com
Refs:
http://www.worldaudit.org/democracy.htm
http://www.worldaudit.org/polrights.htm
http://www.worldaudit.org/civillibs.htm
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?cid=
1123585750831&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar
%2FFatwaE%2FfatwaEAskTheScholar (1)
http://anwary-islam.com/life/purity.htm (2)
Now lets look at the Arab League plus Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia
Indonesia 77 84 123 2 3 Mauritania 81 81 ?? 6 4 Jordon 87 92 30 5 4 Oman 89 118 23 6 5 U.A.E. 90 118 25 6 6 Kuwait 91 84 37 4 5 Malaysia 94 113 31 4 5 Lebanon 99 89 71 5 4 Tunisia 100 131 35 6 5 Morocco 100 94 67 5 4 Egypt 104 107 59 6 5 Algeria 107 97 85 6 5 Pakistan 112 90 129 6 5 Afghanistan 113 107 103 5 5 Saudi A. 117 131 59 7 6 Iraq 121 116 123 6 5 Syria 124 137 59 7 7 Yemen 124 130 91 5 5 Bangladesh 132 107 42 4 4 Iran 132 131 76 6 6 Somalia 143 137 129 6 7 Sudan 146 142 149 7 7 Libya 148 146 106 7 7
These statistics at least give an overview of why Islamic states and their inherent culture are considered an abomination in the eyes of many of the world’s thinking citizens. It’s all about what adult educated people value: that is to have some say in their own wellbeing and some chance to reach, at least in part, what Maslow termed a state of “self actualisation”.
Both the communists and the fascists found that tightly controlled populations cannot perform as well as the ‘messy free thinking masses’ when it comes to getting things done whether it be a war or just running the mechanisms needed to support national/global populations. Hopefully the Islamic revolutionaries will eventually come to the same conclusions (or suffer the same fate), without too much cost to the rest of the world.
From a micro or individual perspective, I offer another reason why the thinkers of the world dislike the whole concept of Islam (not just the radicals), much in the same way they disapprove of any oppressive religion, sect, or fanatic cult.
Here are some typical Islamic instructions on how to live, which Imams, websites and TV programs go to great pains to explain
An online question on the website “www.islamtoday.net”…”Cutting our fingernails in order”, from Farid - Saudi Arabia, to Mufti Dr. Abdul-Wahhab ibn Nasir Al-Tariri (a former professor of Shari `ah at Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud University, Saudi Arabia).
“What is the ruling on clipping fingernails? How short must the fingernails be? Is the ruling the same for men and women? I heard that we should cut our fingernails in a certain order and that we should bury our fingernails. Is this true?”
Responding to the question the Mufti gives the following answer:
“In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Thanks for your question, which reflect[s] your desire to know about the teachings of Islam.
Being a comprehensive religion, Islam deals with all aspects of life, major and minor. A Muslim is required by Islam to adhere to the Islamic way of life in all his affairs.
Clipping fingernails is one of the five qualities dictated by the fitrah or the natural inclination of man. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, “Five are the acts quite akin to fitrah: Circumcision, shaving the pubes, clipping the nails, plucking the hair under the armpits, and clipping (or shaving) the mustache” (reported in all the six authentic collections of Hadith).
We are clearly commanded by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the Sunnahto clip our fingernails short. This command is directed to both men and women equally. In cutting nails, it is required to cut the excessive pieces under which dirt could gather. Therefore, the fingernails should not hang over any part of the finger’s free skin. When clipping the nails, it is part of the Sunnah to start with our right hand, since the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) preferred to start with his right hand in all things, including his manner of grooming. `A'ishah said about her husband, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), “Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) preferred to start with his right side in all matters, in his purification, in combing his hair, and in putting on his shoes” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim). There is no preference, however, for any individual finger over another. The recommendation to bury fingernail and hair is attributed to some of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Some Muslim scholars state that it is permissible to dispose of the nails by throwing them in the garbage or down the drain.
The website also has suggestions on further reading links…”How to Dispose of Fallen Hair and Nails”, “Cutting Hair & Nails in State of Janabah”, “Brushing Hair or Clipping Nails at Night”, “What to Do with Body Parts That Are Removed” (1)
Now one must worry about any organisation that needs to be this dominant over those it rules. It appears the Dr. is a doctor of Islamic studies and seemingly not a physicist, medical doctor, health specialist, or even an engineer, however I could be wrong. What level of all facets of intelligence is fostered when such simple concepts need to be explained? How much contribution to the wellbeing of mankind is the questioner likely to make in his/her lifetime? How productive a citizen is someone who cannot figure out how to cut his/her own fingernails going to be?
Oh and there are prayers to be said for ablutions just to reinforce the “way to live” (dogma?) as well!
On going to the toilet… Put on shoes and cover your head with a cap etc. before going the lavatory and read the following prayer on your way: ”Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal khubthi wal” - "God! I seek thy protection against the devils of the masculine as well as the feminine species”
On emerging from the lavatory, read this prayer: ”Alhamdu lillahi-l-ladhi adhaba 'annil adha” - “I thank the lord who relieved me of the burden and granted me ease.”(2)
Here is one more example of advice from another site with a section on “ask the Imam”.
Q. “Is it ok for a husband and wife to celebrate their wedding anniversary?”
A. “Celebrating birthdays and wedding anniversaries have no basis in Islam. They are the customs of the Kuffaar (the rest of us). Rasulullah [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] said, ‘That person who imitates a nation is from among them.’ The issue is not only about the husband and wife going out to eat on the anniversary; it is also about following the method and ways of the kuffaar, which is prohibited…and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best - Mufti Ebrahim Desai” (3)
So perhaps its time for the rest of us (the infidels) to become more active in trying first to understand the true nature of the, dare I say it, “real threat” modern civilized existence is facing and then get more involved in the process of formulating and implementing an appropriate response! Let us be honest, leaving it to the likes of the apologist Tony B. and apparently not so smart George B. is fraught with danger. This will need to be an infidel community effort and everyone has a part to play.
If you think this is all a bit over dramatic why not go to Google and type in “Ask the Mufti” and give yourself a reality check on just how dangerous and intrusive Islam as a total concept is and perhaps you may also find out why the current world problem is with Islam as a whole. You may also then come to realise that it is not just about a small group of radicals, supposedly hijacking what is claimed, (even by some ill informed ‘Western Leaders’), to be a “great religion”. Oh yes and be sure to try “Kuffaar” in Google search as well and see what the umma (Muslim community worldwide) really thinks of you.
www.caliibre.com
Refs:
http://www.worldaudit.org/democracy.htm
http://www.worldaudit.org/polrights.htm
http://www.worldaudit.org/civillibs.htm
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?cid=
1123585750831&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar
%2FFatwaE%2FfatwaEAskTheScholar (1)
http://anwary-islam.com/life/purity.htm (2)
http://islam.tc/ask-imam/view.php?q=12378 (3)
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